Virulence factors in meningococci.
It is well established that meningococcus strains vary in virulence from non-invasive to highly invasive. This review, based on the literature, presents some of the characteristics of the bacteria that may be of importance for their virulence. It is assumed that factors such as production of an IgA1-protease or the ability to attach to the nasopharyngeal epithelial cells contribute to the virulence of the bacteria. The true role of the lipopolysaccharide for the virulence is not clear, but this substance is obviously of great importance in the pathogenesis of the disease caused by virulent strains. Encapsulated meningococci possess antiphagocytic surface factors that may contribute to their virulence. Such characteristics, which provide the bacteria with the ability to resist the bactericidal action of humoral serum factors, are believed to be the major factors determining virulence. Capsular material together with the serotype protein, or a co-variant protein, are essential in endowing the bacteria with resistance to the killing effect of serum factors.
D000268:Adhesiveness; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D006801:Humans; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D009345:Neisseria meningitidis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D010587:Phagocytosis; D014774:Virulence
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases